The Portland daily press., 1887-01-15
Portland Centennial.

The Centennial volume is handsome roy
al octave of $50 pages, with thirty plates ad-
ditional, and reflects great credit on the edi-
tor, Mr.. John I. Hull, on the printers, Owen,
Strout & Co., and on the binder, Mr.. Edward
Small The editor has judiciously confined
his own remarks to the matter in hand, and
has presented clear and interesting account
of the four days celebration. Although the
reader may pass lightly over some of the
published record he will see that it could
not well be spared by the future historian.
Some of the newspaper notices selected and
letters from old residents are of special in
terest in this connection. The abstracts of
sermons take up ninety-one pages, but they
contain much valuable historical matter ex-
ceedingly well arranged. Willis devoted
sixty-three pages to his history of the
churches, and this brings it down twenty
five years later.
The paper of Mr.. George C. Burgess upon
Church Psalmody during the century is adj
mirably worth preservation. The address of
Elijah Kellogg, like everything from him is
fine, and Mr.. Fenn's remarks well supple
ment it. General Neal Dow's history of
the Temperance Reform and DR.. Dalton's re-
view of the Anti-Slavery Movement are fore
ible and interesting papers. Mr.. William e.
Gould's address on Portland Charities is ex-
cellent, and the "reminiscences of the Rev. j.
I. G.. Nichols, of Saco, give a graphic picture
of the appearance of the city sixty years ago.
The pages of Historical inscriptions" will
be particularly valuable in fixing interesting
localities.
Mayor Chapman's address of welcome at
City Hall, on the third day, will remind the
reader that the mayor has acquitted himself
most happily on&ery occasion when he has
been called upon to represent the city. Mrs.
Cavazza's ode is exquisite, as her work is al
ways sure to be-
Mr.. Reeds Grafton is one of his happiest
efforts, strong, scholarly and graceful, full of
that rhythmic flow of language, which is SO
pleasant to listen to, and which the reader
loves to dwell upon, and read again and
again. 1t is aglowing picture of the town as
it is and as it was, aud if he had done moth
ing else, this would be sufficient to make him
kindly remembered and lovingly honored
on the spot which gave him birth"
The Centennial Poem by Mrs. Abba Goold
Woolson, Ia daughter of our historian) is a
stately and graceful series of exquisite pic
lures of the past and present, as Witness
Dreaming she sits, this mother of us all,
This city that has blessed us from our birth;
About her brows fresh. green coronal
Twned by her children in their hour of mirth
Seaward she looks, yet with tender glance,
Her mantle backward blown along the hill
Her head down-dropped, as in a thoughtful
trance
Her fair hands clasped and STILL
Scarce noting how the fitful breezes sweet
And the glad pillows run to kiss her feet"
1t is admirably sustained throughout, and
should rank next to the work of
THAT laurelled name on Londons minster-wall''
in the record of Portland authors.
If in 1886 this mother of us all'' can bring
forward another son and another daughter,
to fully match the Orator and Poet of this
occasion, she can well say "These are my
| Jewels
The Centennial Hymn by Charles p. Ilsley
is one of the best things that the old veter-
an has ever done; and it was fitting that
another old veteran, David Paine should
have furnished the music to it.
The many other speeches and poems are
characteristic and interesting. An excellent
index makes all the material available. The
Illustrations are outline prototypes by Geo.
ii. Walker & Co. of Boston. They are
spirited and faithful, and excellent speci-
mems OF the modern style Of illustration.
ADAM NEwBEGIN.